Russia – Soviet: A Defence of Voronezh ‘for wounds’ Order of Glory 3rd Class awarded to Private Stepan Romanovich Golodny, 28th Rifle Division, 669th Rifle Regiment for his support of the defence against the initial assaults on Stary Oskol and Kim near Voronezh where on 26th June 1942 mortar fragments blew off his left arm and severely wounded him in the stomach. He would be discharged after this and saw no further wartime service.
Order of Glory 3rd Class, type 2, the reverse numbered 562949
Condition: Good Very Fine
Stepan Romanovich Golodny was born in the village of Zimovnichi, Zimovnikovksy District, Rostav Oblast was born in 1897. A Russian nation he attained an elementary education and served in the Red Army between March and June 1942.
This Order of Glory 3rd Class was the recipients sole award being issued to him much later by decree of the Supreme Soviet on 6th November 1947, one of numerous postwar awards given to those who had missed out on recognition during the conflict.
A veteran of the Civil War where he fought with the 13th Dagestani Division, 37th Rifle Regiment from April 1918 to October 1920, he would be serving as an ordinary soldier and Rifleman with the 669th Rifle Regiment, 28th Rifle Division, Steppe Front when he was involved in the action that led to the award.
The recommendation reads:
‘Situated as part of the 669th Rifle Regiment, 28th Rifle Division in the area between the cities of Stary Oskol and Kim, Voronezh Oblast, on the forward defensive line, on 24th June the enemy began to lay down intense artillery, mortar and machine-gun fire on the front line of our defence. Over the course of 2 days, he beat off the onslaught of numerically superior forces, holding the defensive line manned by the company, and on 26th June mortar fragments blew off his left arm and severely wounded him in the stomach.
After this, in an unconscious state, he was delivered to the medical battalion.’
Like many soldiers it would take several years for Golodny to be recognised for his wartime sacrifices, and in May 1948 perhaps due to his war wounds, he was temporarily not working due to illness but was living on Zaporozhskaya Street, Korenovskaya stanitsa, Korenovsky District, Krasnodar Krai.
